Episode 189: WB’s David Zaslav is the Real Nemesis System (News Show)

Warner Bros. continues to chip away at its infrastructure and consumer confidence with the closure of three more studios. Also: Circana reports for Jan and Feb, a recap of GDC and developers’ feelings about the industry, a curious period for investments, a new union looks to cover the entire industry, and more.

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TIME STAMPS

• [00:03:00] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for January 2025
• [00:11:59] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for February 2025
• [00:21:39] - GDC 2025 Recap
• [00:54:29] - Investment Interlude
• [01:14:23] - Quick Hits
• [01:22:11] - Labor Report

SOURCES

• Warner Bros. Shuts Down Three Game Studios, Cancels Wonder Woman Title | Bloomberg (Paywall)
• Studio Fizbin's Last Magic Trick: “Reignbreaker” | Studio Fizbin
• Layoffs at Wizards of the Coast's Skeleton Key Studio | Nassim Ait-Kaci on LinkedIn
• PlayStation Hit With More Layoffs Following Recent Game Cancellations | Kotaku
• Mountaintop is Shutting Down | Spectre Divide on Twitter
• Respawn lays off staff, cancels another unannounced game | Game Developer
• Free Range Games has Undergone Layoffs | Free Range Games on LinkedIn
• Fallout and Obsidian veterans ditch open-world game plans as team shrinks to a "skeleton crew" | Eurogamer
• Wizards of the Coast winds down Sigil VTT team | Andy Collins on LinkedIn
• Sunsetting Seekers of Skyveil | Elodie on Steam
• UVW-CWA unveiled at GDC 2025 | UVW-CWA

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• Emona Capital completes acquisition of UK publisher Secret Mode | Secret Mode
• Emona Capital makes investment in Blackbird Interactive | Blackbird Interactive on LinkedIn
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